Cornwall-based charity Community Energy Plus are celebrating after their project was named runner-up in the national award scheme the Energy Impact Awards, beating more than 70 competing entries.

The Energy Impact Awards, run by leading fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) in partnership with British Gas, recognise best practice amongst agencies carrying out work that focuses on energy projects tackling fuel poverty by benefiting vulnerable people in the local area.

Community Energy Plus has been awarded a grant of £7,500 which is enabling them to extend their pioneering “energy fit kitchens” project. Over the next six months an additional 75 low income families in Cornwall will benefit from the charity’s innovative approach of using slow cooking workshops as an engagement tool to take control of their energy bills and enjoy warmer, healthier, homes.

Community Energy Plus’ pilot project has supported 611 families over the past year. The grant will enable the charity to trial a different format of workshop, this time engaging both children and their parents in slow cooking events where they can learn valuable lessons related to cooking and eating healthily on a budget, reducing energy use and bills and combatting condensation and mould.

Dr Tim Jones, chief executive of Community Energy Plus, said: "It’s an honour to receive this important national recognition for our innovative energy fit kitchens project. We’re also delighted to have the opportunity to deliver further workshops and help many more families who are currently struggling with their energy bills to learn skills to help them save energy and money.”

Maria Wardrobe, Director of External Affairs at NEA said: “I congratulate Community Energy Plus on their initiative which will help a large number of people in the local community to keep warm and well in their homes.”

Community Energy Plus is a Truro-based charity which provides free advice to help people in Cornwall to enjoy warmer, healthier homes with lower energy bills. The charity will be working with the Cornish social enterprise Little Kitchen Magicians to deliver the energy focused family-friendly slow cooking workshops.